Machine for brushing leather.



C. RUHE.

MACHINE FOR BRUSHING LEATHER.

APPLICATI'DN FILED OCT. 4. 1915- r I l ,1 88,561. Patented June 27, 1916.

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Witneoow c. RUHYE. MACHINE FOR BRUSHING LEATHER.

Patented June 27, 1916.

I APPLICATION FILED OCT. 4.19%5- 1 188,561. 2 suns-4:12:51 2.

r Car/e202? Bake 7 Qttodweng UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARLETON RUHE, 0F CLEAN, NEW YORK.

MACHINE FOR BRUSHING Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed October's, 1915. Serial No. 54,089.

State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Brushing Leather, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to machines for cleaning, washing, or scrubbing, stock or leather, after the tanning process, and has particular reference to improvements in such machines shown and described in United States Letters Patent No. 1,154,341, granted to me under date of September 21st, 1915.

An important object of the invention is to improve the construction of machines of the above mentioned character, with a view of providing eflicient means for holding the leather or stock against slipping, upon the traveling support or endless belt, without liability of injury thereto.

A further object of the invention is to provide means of the above mentioned character, which are simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, strong and durable.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, Figure 1 is a plan view of a machine embodying the invention, Fig. 2 is a central vertical longitudinal sectional view through the same, and, Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary edge elevation of a portion of the traveling support. 7

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodi' ment of my invention,'the numeral 5 designates a supporting structure or frame, as a whole, comprising vertical posts 6,-rigidly' connected by longitudinal and transverse horizontal beams 7, 7, and 8, as shown. Suitably mounted upon the beams 7 of the supporting structure are transverse end shafts 9 and 10, carrying end rolls 11, having teeth 12, as shown.

The numeral 13 designates a flexible traveling support or endless conveyer, provided with elongated openings 14;. Thistraveling support or endless conveyer is carried by the end rolls '11 and the teeth 12 thereof operate within the openings 14:. These teeth 12 and openings 14: are preferably arranged in staggered relatlon. Arranged beneath the upper portion of the traveling support or endless belt 13 isa trough 15, forholding a cleansing liquid, such as water or the like. The upper portion of the traveling support 13 is adapted to pass across and within the trough 15, and to carry the stock or leather thereon below the top or level of the liquid. The upper portion of the traveling support or .endless conveyer 13 is supported or guided by rolls 16, suitably connected with the supporting structure. A guide roll 17 is suitably connected with the supporting structure and engages the lower portion of the traveling support or endless conveyer as shown. Arranged beneath the traveling support or'endless conveyer'is a collecting trough 18, suitably connected withthe supporting structure, and receiving water or the like from drain hoods or members 19,

covering the ends'of the endless belt 13, and

connectedwith the supporting structure.

The numerals 20,- 21 and 22, designate rotatable brushes, rigidly mounted upon shafts 23, 24; and 25, respectively, journaled through bearings 26, which are rigidly mounted upon the beams 7 as shown. Means arefp'rovided for preventing the leather or stockfrom slipping upon the traveling support or endless conveyer 13, when acted upon by the brushes, comprising a flexible traveling support or endless conveyer 26, operating within the trough 15, beneath the upper portion of the main travcling support 13, as shown. The endless conveyer or traveling support 26 is carried by rolls 27, mounted upon transverse shafts 28, suitably connected with the supporting structure. These rolls 27 are preferably arranged beneath the outer rotatable brushes 20 and 22, while the invention is in no sense restricted to this arrangement.

The numerals 27, 28 and 29 designate guide or supporting rolls, arranged within theen'dless belt 26', as shown. The supporting rolls '27 engagethe upper portion of the endless belt 26, the roll,28 engages such upper portion, and the roll 29. engages, the lower portion thereof. The r,olls" 27 and 28 serve to limit the downward movement of the upper portion of the endless belt 26', but this upper portion is free to move upwardly toward the brushes, and is Patented June- 2'7;1916. 4

flexible, to conform to the bent or distorted portion of the traveling support 13, passing beneath the brushes.

As more clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the traveling support or endless belt 26, has a plurality of outwardly extending ribs, lugs, or blocks 29, rigidly attached thereto, by means of pins or bolts 30, passing through the belt and blocks and provided at their outer ends with preferably diverging angularly arranged points, prongs, or lugs, 31, as more clearly shown in Fig. 3. The ribs or blocks 29 are arranged in staggered relation, to enter or operate within the openings 14. The prongs or points 31 extend upwardly beyond the traveling support 13, through the openings 14, for a substantial distance, and are adapted to con tact with the stock or leather upon the traveling support, for preventing it slipping thereon. a

The shaft 25 is provided with a driving pulley 32, rigidly mounted thereon, and receiving rotation from any suitable source. This shaft 25 also carries a sprocket wheel 33, engaged by a sprocket chain 34, engaging a sprocket wheel 35, carried by the shaft 24, and rigidly mounted thereon. Upon its opposite end the shaft 24 has a sprocket wheel 36 rigidly mounted thereon. This sprocket wheel is engaged by a sprocket chain 37, extending to the left and engaging a sprocket wheel 38, rigidly mounted upon the adjacent end of the shaft '23. The shaft 25 also has a pulley 39, rigidly mounted thereon, engaging a preferably crossed belt 40, which engages a pulley 41, rigidly mounted upon the end shaft 10'. The brushes 20, 21, and 22, are preferably driven in the same direction, and the endless conveyer 13 is preferably driven in the same direction with the brushes, but at a lower speed, while this belt may be driven in an opposite direction to the rotation of the brushes and satisfactory results obtained.

In operation, the endless belt or traveling support 13 moves in the direction of the arrow, and the stock or leather is placed upon the right hand end of this endless conveyer and is carried thereby beneath the'brushes, rotating in the same direction with the conveyer but at a higher speed. When passing beneath these brushes, the stock or leather contacts with the points, prongs or projections 31, and is held thereby against slipping upon the endless conveyer. This stock or leather may receive an application of the cleaning liquid by passing through it in the trough 15, or the cleaning liquid may be applied thereto by any suitable means. 7 It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described the invention, I claim 1. In a machine of the character described; a supporting structure; a traveling support connected therewith; a flexible traveling support arranged near the first named traveling support and provided with prongs to contact with the stock upon the first named traveling support to prevent it from slipping thereon; and a movable brush arranged near the first named traveling support to engage the leather or stock thereon.

2. In a machine of the character described; a supporting structure; a flexible traveling support connected therewith and provided with openings; a second flexible traveling support arranged near the first named traveling support and provided with lateral projections to pass through the openings thereof and contact with the stock or leather upon the first named traveling support; and a movable brush arranged near the first named traveling support to engage the stock or leather thereon.

3. In a machine of the character described; a supporting structure; a flexible traveling support connected therewith and provided with openings; a second flexible traveling support operating near and bc low the first named traveling support; blocks secured to the outer side of the second named flexible support and operating within said openings; prongs connected with the blocks to contact with the stock or leather upon the first named traveling support; and a movable brush arranged near and above the first named traveling support.

4-. In a machine of the character described; a supporting structure; an endless conveyer connected therewith and having openings; a second endless conveyer arranged beneath the upper portion of the first named endless conveyer and extending for a substantial portion of the length of the first named endless conveyer and pro vided with outwardly extending prongs to pass through said openings; and a plurality of rotatable brushes arranged near and above the first named endless conveyer in proximity to the second named endless c011- veyer.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CARLETON RUHE. Witnesses HENRY FORD, FRED D. ABnAMs.

Qeptes of this patent may he obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents,

Washington, D. G. 

